R.I.P. Michael Jackson.

R.I.P. Michael Jackson.

Even though you've been gone 1 year, you are still missed.

Al Goody

Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 2/7/2010

Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 2/7/2010
February 10, 2010 09:02:00 AM CST | by Allen Jacobs

Lil Wayne's Rebirth sold an impressive 175,000 debut week units. The Cash Money/Universal Motown project benefited from Wayne being in headlines for both his (now postponed) jail sentence, but also being one of the celebrity faces to the New Orleans Saints Super Bowl victory in Miami. Weezy F.'s Auto-Tune heavy Rock experiment with Cool & Dre could not budge Country/Pop act Lady Antebellum's Need You Now, who assumed #1 for a second straight week. Numerous radio stations yesterday were doing special Young Money dedications to honor Wayne's reporting to Riker's Island. Next week will show if that gave Rebirth any chance of a second run at #1.



With The 2010 Grammy Awards on Sunday, the charts reflected a who's who of nominees. For starters, Capitol Records' compilation of nominees, which included The Black Eyed Peas, bounced back to #5. Those same Peas are within a thousand units sold to take The E.N.D. to double-platinum. The release likely crossed that mark Monday or Tuesday, though Interscope Records has yet to confirm.

Michael Jackson's This Is It fell six spots on the charts. The Epic Records soundtrack companion to the summer film surged 11 spots. Alicia Keys' Element Of Freedom and Beyonce's I Am...Sasha Fierce battled it out on the charts. The two were less than 600 units apart, as a rounded figure shows that Keys will see her latest platinum plaque as of next week's review. J Records has yet to confirm.

* Please note: figures below approximated to nearest thousandeth.
Top 200 Album Sales (Top 5 Hip Hop/R&B)

Rank Artist Album This Week Est. Total
2
Lil Wayne
Rebirth
176,000
176,000

5 Various Artists
2010 Grammy Nominees
71,000
165,000

6
Black Eyed Peas
The E.N.D.
70,000
1,999,000

11
Michael Jackson's
This Is It
35,000
1,439,000

13
Alicia Keys
Element of Freedom
34,000
1,000,000


Lil Wayne and teammates' We Are Young Money still are short of 300,000. As predicted, the charts boasted numerous Young Money/Cash Money acts, including Rebirth, We Are Young Money, Jay Sean's debut, Birdman's latest, Drake's EP, and even former Hot Boy Juvenile.

Although numbers were tallied prior to his Super Bowl pre-game performance Jay-Z's Blueprint 3 saw an excellent week in sales growth. The Atlantic Records-distributed break from Def Jam climbed 10 spaces. Eminem's Relapse climbed seven spots, as the release aims to go double platinum by mid-March.

Drake's So Far Gone EP was just barely out of Top 50. The fall debut release approaches 400,000, and remains Drake's starting point, with a gold plaque likely in sight. 50 Cent's Before I Self Destruct gained 17 spots last week. This could be another album, that with radio support of a new single, could reach gold status by early spring.



Rank Artist Album This Week Est. Total
28
Young Money
We Are Young Money
21,000
291,000

30
Jay-Z Blueprint 3
19,000
1,597,000

34
Eminem
Relapse
18,000
1,824,000

53
Drake
So Far Gone
12,000
369,000

69
50 Cent
Before I Self Destruct
8,500
387,000

Despite hope from some, neither powerful east coast deejay, Statik Selektah, nor DJ Green Lantern cracked the charts with debut albums last week.

From HipHopDX.com

http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.10597/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-2-7-2010

Michael Jackson’s Physician to Surrender; Manslaughter Charges Expected

Michael Jackson’s Physician to Surrender; Manslaughter Charges Expected
Wednesday, February 03, 2010 11:30 AM
By Chris Richburg

(AllHipHop News) The man who Los Angeles authorities believe is responsible for the death of Michael Jackson is expected to surrender to them this week, according to CNN.com.

Although prosecutors have not announced any charges, Miranda Sevcik, a spokeswoman for the legal team of Dr. Conrad Murray, says the physician has not been told how or where he should surrender.

Nevertheless, Murray’s attorney, Ed Chernoff tells CNN that his client is “more than ready to surrender and answer to any charges."

Murray has been at the center of the ongoing investigation surrounding the death of Jackson, who died unexpectedly on June 25. The music pioneer’s passing was ruled by the Los Angeles County coroner as a homicide resulting from a combination of drugs that included propofol and lorazepam.

Murray has kept a relatively low profile since the tragedy after proclaiming his innocence via a YouTube video that was posted last year. In anticipation of possible charges against him, Sevcik revealed that Murray traveled to Los Angeles from his home in Houston, Texas last week.

Murray expects the charges will be announced within 24 to 48 hours, she added. Murray’s anticipated surrender marks the latest chapter in the ongoing aftermath of Jackson’s death. At the time of Jackson’s passing, Murray had been treating the singer for insomnia for six week. A police affidavit noted that Murray told investigators he had given Jackson three anti-anxiety drugs to help him.

It wasn’t until Jackson finally began sleeping that Murray said he left the bedroom for "about two minutes maximum." The affidavit further stated that "upon his return, Murray noticed that Jackson was no longer breathing." As he crooner was rushed to a UCLA Medical Center, Murray was with him. Jackson was later pronounced dead, despite attempts to give him CPR.

The newest development in the Jackson investigation comes just days after the King of Pop received a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Grammy awards on Sunday (Jan. 31).

Prior to his two oldest children accepting the award, Jackson was honored with a heartfelt tribute that included the premiere of a video for his 1995 single, “Earth Song” as well as a live performance featuring Usher, Smokey Robinson, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson and Celine Dion. Jackson’s philanthropy continues to make news as the world celebrates the 25th anniversary of the release of the song, “We Are the World.”

The1985 single, which was co-written by Jackson and Lionel Ritchie, featured the two singers as well as an all-star roster of artists that came together to raise money for famine relief in Africa. A new version of “We Are the Word” featuring an all new line up of entertainers was recorded Monday (Feb.1) in the same studio where the original song was made.

Those participating in the remake included Usher, Hudson, Dion, Faith Evans, Miley Cyrus, Akon, Justin Bieber, Anthony Hamilton, Harry Connick Jr., Tyrese Gibson, Natalie Cole and Keri Hilson as well as rappers Snoop Dogg, LL Cool J, Drake, Kanye West, Kid Cudi and Lil Wayne.

Proceeds from the updated version of “We Are the World” will go toward relief efforts in Haiti.

From AllHipHop.com

http://allhiphop.com/stories/news/archive/2010/02/03/22114897.aspx

Michael Jackson's Doctor To Be Charged With Manslaughter

Michael Jackson's Doctor To Be Charged With Manslaughter
01.09.10 | by Krysten Hughes

Nearly seven months after the untimely demise of music icon Michael Jackson, prosecutor's are accusing Dr. Conrad Murray, of involuntary manslaughter. Murray, who was being paid $150,000 a week to be the King of Pop's personal doctor, had been under investigation for giving him the sedative, Propofol, along with Valium, lorazepam and midazolam.

NBC reported that "a law enforcement source told the Associated Press Murray will be prosecuted on a theory of gross negligence. The indictment will be sought as soon as cops in Los Angeles, where Jackson died, make their case to the district attorney." The charges against Murray are for administering lethal doses of Propofol.

Janet Jackson told ABC, "[Dr. Conrad Murray] was the one that was administering [drugs]. I think he is responsible." Murray admitted to authorities that he did give the pop singer Propofol at 10:40 a.m. the morning that he died.

From HipHopDX.com

http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.10398/title.michael-jacksons-doctor-to-be-charged-with-manslaughter